PARIS – Oxford County officials are preparing for the new year’s personnel changes, which are effective Jan. 1.

Sheriff-elect Wayne Gallant of Rumford will be sworn in at 2 p.m. on Jan. 1 at The Hotel Harris on Congress Street in Rumford, along with County Treasurer Mary Ann Prue of Rumford and Register of Deeds Jane Rich of Andover.

The event, which will be followed by a reception, is open to the public and is sponsored by the Oxford County Democratic Committee.

Gallant said Tuesday that he is not sure which state official will perform the swearing-in ceremony.

Dane Tripp of Poland, a Sheriff’s Office corporal, will take over as chief deputy Jan. 1. He was Gallant’s choice.

Chief Deputy Christopher Wainwright of Canton announced to commissioners Tuesday that Sheriff Lloyd “Skip” Herrick has moved him to his former position as lieutenant in charge of road patrol, effective Dec. 31.

The move was not a surprise to Gallant.

“I was aware that it would probably take place,” he said Tuesday night by phone, because the position Wainwright is in Tripp will take.

Asked if Wainwright will continue as road patrol lieutenant, Gallant said, “Right now I’m going to take over Jan. 1, and I’ll be evaluating positions.”

At their meeting Tuesday, county commissioners divided up various responsibilities during their meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Steven Merrill of Norway will be chairman in 2007. Outgoing Chairman David Duguay of Byron said the commissioners take turns in the position.

Merrill will also be the county’s director for the Maine County Commissioners Association.

Commissioner-elect Caldwell Jackson of Oxford will be sworn in Jan. 5 at a time and date to be determined. On Tuesday, he was appointed the county’s representative to the Workforce Investment Board, an employment resource agency.

Duguay will continue as the county’s representative for the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, a nonprofit regional planning agency for Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.

Staff Editor Mary Delamater contributed to this report.